Police investigate ‘sexting’ at high school

Huntsville Forester

PARRY SOUND – On April 28 at 3:44 p.m. an officer with the West Parry Sound OPP stopped a pick-up truck on Seguin Street after checking the license plate against Ministry of Transportation (MTO) records and discovering the registered owner was a suspended driver due to unpaid fines. The officer also found that the vehicle insurance had expired and the driver and that the vehicle’s driver was its owner. A37-year-old Seguin Township man is charged with driving while under suspension and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
That was one of 157 cases the West Parry Sound OPP dealt with between March 28 and April 3. Others included three break and enters, seven thefts, one domestic dispute, 16 motor vehicle collision and five charges under the liquor license act.
On March 29 at 10:58 p.m. a West Parry Sound OPP officer was conducting patrol in the Seguin Street area when a 19-year-old male of Parry Sound was observed to be staggering and displaying signs of impairment by alcohol. A second officer attended to assist in the arrest of the male for his safety. Following the arrest the male was searched and two glass mugs were found on his person. Officers determined that the mugs had been taken from the licensed establishment where the male had been drinking and advised the business of the theft. The business declined to lay charges but requested that the male not return. The male was taken to the local detachment and released when sober. He was served a $65 ticket for being intoxicated in a public place when released.
On March 30 at 2:30 p.m. Parry Sound High School staff alerted the West Parry Sound OPP to a student possibly in possession of child pornography. OPP attended the school and commenced an investigation into the allegation. The OPP learned that sexually explicit naked photos had been forwarded via text from one student to another student. The OPP is continuing the investigation. "When people take and send sexually revealing pictures of themselves or send sexually explicit messages via text message, it’s called 'sexting' " (Common Sense Media, Talking About "Sexting"). OPP warns that those who receive and then store or distribute sexually explicit photos of persons under the age of 18 are committing a criminal offence and can be charged with Possessing Child Pornography and Importing/Distributing Child Pornography. Sexting is on the rise and the OPP urges the public to use caution and common sense when sending photos through cell phones or other electronic devices.
On March 31 at 3:03 a.m. West Parry Sound OPP officers were conducting patrol in the downtown Parry Sound area following bar close. Officers’ attention was drawn to an intoxicated male on foot who was swearing at passing OPP cruisers. Officers stopped to extinguish a fire in a garbage can nearby and spoke with the swearing male. Officers were provided information of an alleged suspect; however, the information had inconsistencies. The intoxicated male refused to accept multiple offers to leave in a cab and was subsequently arrested for being intoxicated in a public place and held in custody until sober for his safety. While in custody he urinated through the jail cell bars onto the floor of a common area and threw water on a surveillance camera outside the cell. The 41 year old resident of Parry Sound was charged with being intoxicated in a public place and mischief and released when sober the following morning.
On April 1 at 10:25 a.m. a motorist attended the West Parry Sound OPP detachment to report that while travelling along Seguin Street earlier that morning a pedestrian had uttered a threat to commit bodily harm to the passing motorist. The investigation determined that the suspect had in fact been in custody at the OPP detachment the previous night for unrelated offences and had been released with court appearance paperwork when sober. Officers immediately patrolled the area but were unable to find the suspect. Later that afternoon the suspect, a 41-year-old resident of Parry Sound, was observed by officers and arrested, charged with criminal harassment-threatening conduct and possession of marijuana, and held in custody for a bail hearing in Parry Sound the next day.
The West Parry Sound OPP was called to a boarding house on River Street on April 2at 2:03 p.m. regarding an intoxicated male who did not reside at that address and would not leave. The 59 year old male, address unknown, was reported to be very intoxicated but not violent. OPP officers attended and the male was arrested for being intoxicated in a common area and held in custody until sober for his safety. He was served a $65 ticket.
A concerned motorist reported a traffic complainant to the West Parry Sound OPP on April 3 regarding a 2002 Pontiac on Bowes Street the previous evening. The complainant was able to obtain the license plate of the suspect vehicle and provided it to OPP. The driver’s behaviour was described as speeding and passing on the right and putting the safety of others at risk. The registered owner was contacted by OPP and warned regarding the driving behaviour. The OPP asks the public to report traffic complaints to police in a timely manner, especially if a driver is suspected of being impaired by alcohol, drug, or fatigue.